Actors go back in time in MCT’s ‘Awesome ’80s Prom’

Published 11:09 am, Thursday, April 20, 2017

From left, Morgan Permenter, Daniel Collins, Whitney Smith, Mark Kaufman, Caitlin Miles and Hannah Taylor go back to school in "The Awesome '80s Prom."

From left, Morgan Permenter, Daniel Collins, Whitney Smith, Mark Kaufman, Caitlin Miles and Hannah Taylor go back to school in "The Awesome '80s Prom."

Photo: Courtesy Photo

Actors go back in time in MCT’s ‘Awesome ’80s Prom’

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Parachute pants, high-top sneakers and Members Only jackets were all the fashion rage in the 1980s. Duran Duran and Madonna were on the top of the charts. And Aqua Net hairspray was a must-have.

Three decades have rendered those a memory, but Midland Community Theatre is bringing back the era with its new interactive “The Awesome ’80s Prom,” which previews tonight and opens Friday.

Actors Caitlin Miles, Morgan Permenter and Whitney Smith play the mean popular cheerleaders -- the opposite of what they say there were in their own high school days.

As Whitley Whittaker, Miles is Wanaget High’s most popular student, the head cheerleader and a shoo-in for queen of the school’s 1989 prom.

IF YOU GO:

"The Awesome '80s Prom." Prom attire encouraged. Ticket includes souvenir cup, yearbook program and prom photo opportunity. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Opens Friday and runs through April 29 at The Junior League of Midland, 902 W. Dengar Ave. For ages 21 and older only. $35. mctmidland.org.

“She has a legacy because her grandmother, her mother were all prom queens so she must win at all costs,” Miles said.

She does so with the help of her “gang,” the Heathers. Heather No. 1 (Smith) and No. 2 (Permenter) round out the clique.

“The character I created with Heather Winters is that she comes from a rich family and she’s pretty smart, but plays down her brains. She dumbs everything down so she doesn’t overshadow Whitley,” Permenter said.

Smith’s Heather gives the trio balance.

“Well, Heather Wellington, she’s not real bright,” Smith said. “She’s the stereotypical cheerleader skating by on her looks and even dates the same guy as the other Heather. But she’s fun and goofy.”

Whitley, of course, is dating the football captain, Blake Williams (Mark Kaufman), while the Heathers are seeing football player Joshua “Beef” Beefarowski (Daniel Collins).

The show includes the usual high school archetypes such as “the geek” (Mark DeVries), “the drama queen (Brian Gravelle)”, the foreign exchange student (Michelle Tate) and more.

“Prom” is an interactive show. The audience is part of the show and even helps determine the outcome by voting for the prom queen and king. All three actors said this is something they’ve never done before and that MCT has not done in a long time.

“Rehearsals were interesting because we have to be ready for all situations,” Miles said. “So we really had to develop our characters fully and relationships with each other.”

The audience can even talk with the characters.

“We encourage them to,” Miles said. “We want them to really get into it like it’s their own prom.”

The actors were easily influenced by movies, music and style.

“Hair is a problem, though,” Permenter said. “I have thick hair and getting that to stand-up is a challenge.”

Smith said their dressing room reeks of hairspray.

They said that playing mean is not easy.

“I’m kind of hesitant to be bossing the Heathers around and using them,” Miles said, “And yet the truth is, if they can’t do their part, I can’t do mine and vice versa.”